Stuart Dark, chairman of the children’s services committee at Norfolk County Council, said: “These results are a credit to the hard works of students and teachers across Norfolk’s schools.

“It is important that we build on the successes and continue to be ambitious for education standards in our county.

“Norfolk has a high number of good or outstanding schools and we are investing significant funds into buildings and SEND facilities to support the County’s children and teaching staff.”

School standards minister Nick Gibb said: “Making sure that all pupils, regardless of their background, are able to fulfil their potential is one of this government’s key priorities and these results show that more pupils across the country are doing just that.

“It’s been clear for some time that standards are rising in our schools and today’s data underlines the role academies and free schools are playing in that improvement, with progress above the national average and impressive outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.”